I love this cozy mystery series, and this is the best installment in a while! the first 6 or so were awesome, then they got stale for a while, and now Meg Lanslow's character is getting back in stride. I wish I'd read this in the spring (I like to read books in the time-of-year they are set; it's a quirk of mine). Also, I want more of Meg's crazy family!

One has to be in just the right mood to enjoy Pinkwater. He is absurd and real at the same time, and I love the quick pacing in his stories, including this one. I just couldn't stretch my brain enough to make his plot leaps, so I didn't finish reading it. Oh well; like his writing, I'm not going to dwell on it, I'm just gonna move on.😉

Pretty good, but not as good as earlier ones in the series. Some of Frances' backstory.

Similar in style to Tana French, but a little less gritty; softer. Well written and a quick, fun read, but not great literature.

Take-away: both parents and educators need to ditch all the trite curriculum packages, meaningless busy-work crafts, overwhelming decorations, & concentrate on better, deeper, more meaningful COMMUNICATION & verbal /interaction skills. Students' reading skills are practically guaranteed to improve.